REDLANDS - A protest is planned today over the dismissal by Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft of a 20-plus year employee while on medical leave for breast cancer.

The protest is planned for this afternoon at the company's Redlands location at 1625 W. Lugonia Ave. in support of Deborah Browning, 60, of Highland, who was fired from her post as a customer service representative. She had been with the company since 1990.

Since word of her situation broke on Friday, it has gained the attention of many, including the NBC station in Los Angeles, which aired Browning's story on its 6 p.m. newscast.

In addition to media attention, there have been calls for a boycott of the company on several social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Browning said she was stunned by the response.

"When I got the call from Channel 4 news, I was in shock," she said. "I told (my sister), `Oh my God, I think we opened a can of worms.' And she said, `Well, Debbie, after 20 years and everything you've done, you didn't deserve this treatment. Anyone would want you for an employee."'

Browning's termination date was effective Nov. 9.

A spokesman for the company said the case is under review.

Highland resident and business owner Ben Munoz, also a cancer survivor, is spearheading today's protest.

"When I read (the story) that was linked on Facebook, I was overwhelmed with sadness. Plain sadness," he said. "We want to make it aware to the people what this company is doing wrong. This is a lady that has dedicated 20 years to a business and they put her away like that?"

Munoz said the protest is slated in the afternoon, but calls were still being made Friday to plan the effort.

He added that if the protest falls through today, he will plan another.

"And if it happens, we're going to do it again," he said. "It's wrong."

Munoz is encouraging those who wish to join the protest to contact him by phone at 909-519-3854 or find him on Facebook at facebook.com.

Browning began working for the company full time in February 1990 in Washington state at a subsidiary of the company, Beth's Fabric and Craft.

She moved to Highland in 2000 and began working for Jo-Ann's in San Bernardino until it closed and merchandise and staff was shifted to the Lugonia Avenue store in Redlands.

She was diagnosed in December 2011, several weeks after her hours were cut to 29 per week, and she lost her health benefits.

She went on medical leave in March.

Per company policy, the leave would continue up to 26 weeks, but the company would consider an extension of leave if appropriate documentation was provided.

Browning said she followed directions and kept the company in the loop as she continued to receive treatment, paid for by Medi-Cal.

She was still dismissed, Browning said.

"Our human resources team is in the process of reviewing this case," Beth L. Shivak, manager of corporate communications for the company, said in an email Tuesday. "The personal matters of our Team Members are treated with a high degree of confidentiality, so, at this time, we cannot discuss the details of this situation beyond that."

Browning still hopes to have her job waiting for her when she is approved to return to work by her doctor - she is still receiving 10 weeks of treatment as preventive care.

"I would like to keep the time I had, and the same pay. It's a hope, but we will have to see what happens," Browning said. "I was never late for work, I never called in sick. I went to work one time with a case of food poisoning, but it didn't hit me until I (arrived). I had my head in a trash can crying, `No, I can't go home - nobody else can close tonight.